Quintus Quinctius Cincinnatus (consular tribune 415 BC)

Quintus Quinctius Cincinnatus was a Roman politician who served as a consular tribune in 415 BC. He belonged to the patrician gens Quinctia, a prominent family in early Roman history. His filiation is unknown, and he is distinguished from other members of the gens bearing the same name primarily by the year of his tribuneship.

As one of the consular tribunes of 415 BC, Cincinnatus held significant imperium, essentially replacing the office of consul for that year. The creation of consular tribuneships, with varying numbers of tribunes, often coincided with periods of internal social strife, specifically disagreements between patricians and plebeians over access to the consulship. This magistracy allowed for plebeians to be elected, though the extent to which they actually were varied.

The historical record regarding the actions and specific policies of Quintus Quinctius Cincinnatus during his tribuneship is sparse. Livy provides a general account of the year but does not highlight individual contributions of the consular tribunes. The tribuneship of 415 BC is notable for its continued management of wars against various neighboring Italian tribes, including the Aequi and the Volsci. Details of the military campaigns and the overall political climate during that year can be found in Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita.

The existence and participation of Quintus Quinctius Cincinnatus in the 415 BC tribuneship are generally accepted by historians, though information beyond his name and the year of his office is limited. He represents a minor figure in the broader narrative of Roman history during the early Republic.